View in EDS PDF Full Text

Measuring Intentional Communication in Infants at Elevated Likelihood of Autism: Validity, Reliability, and Responsiveness of a Novel Coding Scale

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Measuring Intentional Communication in Infants at Elevated Likelihood of Autism: Validity, Reliability, and Responsiveness of a Novel Coding Scale
Language: English
Authors: Elizabeth Choi-Tucci (ORCID 0009-0007-5535-8711), John Sideris, Cristin Holland, Grace T. Baranek (ORCID 0000-0002-5321-6353), Linda R. Watson (ORCID 0000-0001-7722-406X)
Source: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. 2025 68(3):1151-1160.
Availability: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH)
Contract Number: R21HD09154702
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Infants, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Caregiver Child Relationship, Nonverbal Communication, Verbal Communication, Intentional Learning, Test Construction, Test Reliability, Test Validity, Disability Identification, Early Intervention, Interrater Reliability, Resistance to Change
Geographic Terms: North Carolina
DOI: 10.1044/2024_JSLHR-23-00787
ISSN: 1092-4388
1558-9102
Abstract: Purpose: Intentional communication acts, or purposefully directed vocalizations and gestures, are particularly difficult for infants at elevated likelihood for eventual diagnosis of autism. The ability to measure and track intentional communication in infancy thus has the potential to aid early identification and intervention efforts. This study assesses the validity of a novel measure of intentional communication intended for use within semistructured caregiver--infant interactions. Method: The Intentional Communication Coding Scale (IC Coding Scale) captures infants' Vocalizations, Gestures, and Combined (vocalizations paired with gestures) acts. Using data from 36 infants at elevated likelihood for autism, we tested the convergent and discriminant validity of the IC Coding Scale with established language measures using Spearman's rho. We tested interrater reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) calculations. Finally, we tested responsiveness (i.e., sensitivity to change) using Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests and Spearman's rho. Results: Our initial psychometric tests suggested adequate levels of convergent and discriminant validity. ICCs ranged from 0.77 to 0.92, while confidence intervals were wide, suggesting that Gestures and Combined acts were coded more variably than Vocalizations were among raters. Tests of the scale's responsiveness suggested adequate sensitivity to change across a 12-week period. Conclusions: This study is an important first step toward validating the IC Coding Scale for use in measuring and tracking intentional communication behaviors in infants at elevated likelihood for autism within more naturalistic, semistructured activities. Additional studies are needed to disentangle the effects of intervention from maturation and to examine types of intentional communication acts in more detail.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1467193
Database: ERIC
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
    Url: https://content.ebscohost.com/cds/retrieve?content=AQICAHj0k_4E0hTGH8RJwT4gCJyBsGNe_WN95AvKlDbXJGqwxwHMQlkLHn5MdfLbCMkBOoCfAAAA4zCB4AYJKoZIhvcNAQcGoIHSMIHPAgEAMIHJBgkqhkiG9w0BBwEwHgYJYIZIAWUDBAEuMBEEDMPYnLK6DIhZxk6WpwIBEICBmzOsadpAwO0VSz1r-lCwn8CNGxoJssEdZe8qpXR8MyLIJLQhI9-7ohO2pYXt_w4no7lPD_JEldMjOwcByWDOaLR27KcZutpc0sgpiTwowhPDT8rP7hZysJkQ7R6w3aCEIoStjq_9voTQyRH-d8qGVLo9_v_08otb_4F3LpnO9t4RuUZ9YzQbxb3l8R06VENHC59PNOn1vI6hF7nV
Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1467193
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Measuring Intentional Communication in Infants at Elevated Likelihood of Autism: Validity, Reliability, and Responsiveness of a Novel Coding Scale
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elizabeth+Choi-Tucci%22">Elizabeth Choi-Tucci</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5535-8711">0009-0007-5535-8711</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22John+Sideris%22">John Sideris</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cristin+Holland%22">Cristin Holland</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Grace+T%2E+Baranek%22">Grace T. Baranek</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5321-6353">0000-0002-5321-6353</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Linda+R%2E+Watson%22">Linda R. Watson</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7722-406X">0000-0001-7722-406X</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Speech%2C+Language%2C+and+Hearing+Research%22"><i>Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research</i></searchLink>. 2025 68(3):1151-1160.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 10
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: SourceSuprt
  Label: Sponsoring Agency
  Group: SrcSuprt
  Data: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH)
– Name: NumberContract
  Label: Contract Number
  Group: NumCntrct
  Data: R21HD09154702
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infants%22">Infants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autism+Spectrum+Disorders%22">Autism Spectrum Disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Caregiver+Child+Relationship%22">Caregiver Child Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nonverbal+Communication%22">Nonverbal Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Verbal+Communication%22">Verbal Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intentional+Learning%22">Intentional Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Construction%22">Test Construction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Reliability%22">Test Reliability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Validity%22">Test Validity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disability+Identification%22">Disability Identification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Early+Intervention%22">Early Intervention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interrater+Reliability%22">Interrater Reliability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Resistance+to+Change%22">Resistance to Change</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22North+Carolina%22">North Carolina</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1044/2024_JSLHR-23-00787
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1092-4388<br />1558-9102
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: Intentional communication acts, or purposefully directed vocalizations and gestures, are particularly difficult for infants at elevated likelihood for eventual diagnosis of autism. The ability to measure and track intentional communication in infancy thus has the potential to aid early identification and intervention efforts. This study assesses the validity of a novel measure of intentional communication intended for use within semistructured caregiver--infant interactions. Method: The Intentional Communication Coding Scale (IC Coding Scale) captures infants' Vocalizations, Gestures, and Combined (vocalizations paired with gestures) acts. Using data from 36 infants at elevated likelihood for autism, we tested the convergent and discriminant validity of the IC Coding Scale with established language measures using Spearman's rho. We tested interrater reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) calculations. Finally, we tested responsiveness (i.e., sensitivity to change) using Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests and Spearman's rho. Results: Our initial psychometric tests suggested adequate levels of convergent and discriminant validity. ICCs ranged from 0.77 to 0.92, while confidence intervals were wide, suggesting that Gestures and Combined acts were coded more variably than Vocalizations were among raters. Tests of the scale's responsiveness suggested adequate sensitivity to change across a 12-week period. Conclusions: This study is an important first step toward validating the IC Coding Scale for use in measuring and tracking intentional communication behaviors in infants at elevated likelihood for autism within more naturalistic, semistructured activities. Additional studies are needed to disentangle the effects of intervention from maturation and to examine types of intentional communication acts in more detail.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1467193
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1467193
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1044/2024_JSLHR-23-00787
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 1151
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Infants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Autism Spectrum Disorders
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Caregiver Child Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nonverbal Communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Verbal Communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intentional Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Construction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Reliability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Validity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disability Identification
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Early Intervention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interrater Reliability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Resistance to Change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: North Carolina
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Measuring Intentional Communication in Infants at Elevated Likelihood of Autism: Validity, Reliability, and Responsiveness of a Novel Coding Scale
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Elizabeth Choi-Tucci
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: John Sideris
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Cristin Holland
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Grace T. Baranek
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Linda R. Watson
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1092-4388
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1558-9102
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 68
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
              Type: main
ResultId 1